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Planning Commission To Begin New Study for NE Corner Neighborhood

Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development

It’s been almost 15 years.  Wow, time has really flown by.

Back in July 2000, a planning process for the Northeast Corner Neighborhood was initiated by the City as the result of the community’s dissatisfaction with the housing density permitted under the zoning standards on the books at that time.

The planning study came off the heels of the approval of the Shimmons Woodgrove Subdivision, generally located south of Shimmons Road and west of Squirrel Road.  Most property owners and City officials felt that the project was too dense for the area.  The site was mass graded and no natural areas were left remaining.

The main concern at the time was that the Northeast Corner Neighborhood was one of the few natural or “rural” areas left in the City and that the atmosphere of the area would be destroyed if the City did not alter its existing land use policy.  As a result, the Planning Commission held a series of workshops to review what the community wanted the area to look like in the future.  Property owners were encouraged to express their opinions throughout the planning process.

In the end, it was clear to the Planning Commission that the majority of those involved in the process wanted the housing density lowered to preserve the neighborhood’s open space and natural features.  In April 2001, the Planning Commission adopted a new master plan which accomplished those goals.  Soon after the majority of the property in the neighborhood was rezoned to implement the new policy.

The Northeast Corner Neighborhood is the area bounded to the north by Dutton Road, south by Walton Boulevard, west by M-24, and east by the City of Rochester Hills border.
The Northeast Corner Neighborhood is the area bounded to the north by Dutton Road, south by Walton Boulevard, west by M-24, and east by the City of Rochester Hills border.

The neighborhood study and zoning were reviewed in 2007, but no changes were made. Now, it’s time to study the neighborhood again.  We expect some tweaks will be needed to the existing plan based on anticipated development pressures and planned road improvements.  The Commission plans to review potential changes to the 2001 policy with property owners in the neighborhood – and receive comments – in a very open and transparent manner.

Stay tuned for an announcement of a neighborhood meeting to be held in late March or early April.  We encourage all who are interested to attend and be a part of the process.